A Mask in A Mirror

Chapter 5: That's Not Butter

It was the last week of school, for that I was grateful as it saved me from having to see Jordan every day. Ann did a very smart thing while playing her usual idiotic character. She distanced herself from me as much as possible after learning of my split with Jordan. She wasn't going to let anybody suspect that I had been cheating on Jordan. I was becoming a very popular person in the school and I used that influence to help where I could. There were no bullies in Far Hills as long as I was around and nobody ever felt left out if I could help it. Hatchet taught me how to watch for that. He had to take some extreme action to beat the message in, but it was one that I never forgot.

Nobody really knew why I was so popular. I was alright at discus and an ok distance runner. Not bad but certainly not enough to make me a star athlete. Never the less people were starting to look to me for leadership, which was something I found myself adjusting well too, even if I wasn't accustomed to it. Ann was always aware of the public eye. She understood how to influence peoples' perception of an individual, because that is what she had been doing to her own image her whole life. Now she put those skills to use as she protected mine.

Likewise, I did my best to emphasize that Jordan wasn't the bad guy, or girl in this case. I told everybody that it was a mutual split because we had both lost interest in the relationship. It was a political answer and I knew it, but I didn't want all of the support that I was receiving to be replicated as disdain towards Jordan. For her part, Jordan refused to acknowledge me at all. She still sat at our table, but we had rearranged. Hatchet now sat next to me, with Dave wedged between Ann and Jordan

Between track sectionals and all of the high school drama that was unfolding before me, I turned my attention away from Hatchet. I didn't notice how he was late to every class. I didn't notice when he moved a few feet from the group during mealtime. I didn't notice when he quit speaking. I didn't notice as he began his descent.

Thursday evening, around ten o'clock my phone rang. I was sitting at home, in the barn working on growing my scrap pile. I answered my phone and heard Jordan's voice on the other end. She was sobbing, crying for me to come quick. She said that Hatchet was in the hospital but I couldn't get her to tell me why.

Once again I charged from my barn and flew down the road for a friend in need. I was lucky, making it to the hospital in Springfield without meeting any cops. I had to calm myself as I searched for a parking spot. Whatever was happening, I doubted that I would actually be of much use. I ran to the door after I parked. I was in the ER portion of the hospital. The door opened into a long hallway. I power walked down the hall following the signs pointing towards the ER waiting room. I slowed as I approached the door to the room. I didn't know what to expect, but whatever the case I needed to regain my composure. There was no point in me further distressing the individuals inside.

I pushed the door open to see that all of my friends were gathered already. Dave, Ann, and Jordan were all sitting on the back wall. I approached in silence and took a chair facing the three of them. The smell of sickness that permeates all hospitals was thick in my nostrils.

"What's happening?" I tried to sound calm.

"Hatchet tried to kill himself." Ann spoke softly. Her voice rattled a little. "He took a metal butter knife and jammed it into a wall outlet." She elaborated.

I was shocked. I had noticed that Hatchet was a little depressed. I just hadn't realized how desperate he must have been. Looking around I could see that all three of them were feeling the same guilt that was burning in my stomach. We had failed as his friends.

I hesitated to ask what had to come next. "So... how is he?" I choked up a little on the last word. Surely he must be alive? Why would anybody be waiting out here if he wasn't?